Health Care at Home

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Written by Island Home Care

Health Care at Home in Tenerife: Your “Golden” Years

There are several options to consider but sadly most are quite difficult for Ex-Pats, especially if you don’t speak Spanish. There are very few options for English speaking care but HCP Home Care Adeje is a one place to start. There are other options but you need to face head on what your circumstances COULD be and think hard before that time comes about what you want out of life, including possibly going back to the UK or your home country.

Social System

If you need care at home, you will be entitled if you have paid into the system long enough but you will be lucky if they are fluent in English and it frankly won’t be enough.

Retirement Home

If you have paid into the system in Tenerife long enough, you have live in options but VERY few English speaking. If you are considering this option, check your entitlement careful and visit one or two to see how you feel about it.

Nursing Home Care

If you are not yet in need of a live-in retirement home, you may be able to manage by “throwing money at it” as the saying goes. You will need the services of a qualified nurse, a cleaner, interpreter, “companion” if you need a wheelchair and want to get out for a coffee, drink or meal now and again and don’t forget someone to prepare meals, wash up, change and wash bed-clothea and so on.

Island Home Care

Island Home Care began in the North of Tenerife and soon realised there was a great demand in the South. Their register of services should cover most or all of your needs. They do NOT provide nursing services but specialise in bringing people together – those with various needs like cleaning, bed changes, meals, hospital trips, social outings, companions – and people who can meet those needs.

Live in Carer with 2 Bedrooms

If you own your own property you could consider offering a permanent position with accommodation to someone who can meet your needs. There are 2 very different options. If you need 24 hour care you will need to include 2 additional people, ie you will need a total of 3 people to cover 3 x  8 hour shifts as you cannot expect 1 person to cover 24/7. At that point you should be considering a nursing home perhaps.

However if your needs are basic, shopping, cleaning, cooking, trips out, washing pots, laundry, you do not necessarily need qualified professionals – more someone you get on with – then it can work very well.
There are many variations on this theme. You can put someone on contract, provides holiday pay, health beneits, sic pay etc., in which case you will need to arrange cover and COULD possibly find yourself in a difficult position financially if they are ill.
Alternatively you can invite someone into you home based on hours work to the value of the accommodation provided then agree what you may need extra and pay them a monthly or weekly amount on a self employed basis. This often works well with local people who have friends and relatives nearby whereby with flexible hours they can maintain a social life and also have contacts who can cover in times os sickness or holidays.

Live in Carer with 3+ Bedrooms

As with the 2 bed option but this actually offers opportunities for your carer to expande their hours, look after a second person, put additional support in place. It also makes for more of a social atmosphere where you can support each other.